Controllable Virus/Protein Assemblies and Methods of Making the Same

Abstract

Methods of forming a bionanocomposite defining a shell and a core are generally provided along with the bionanocomposites themselves. The method includes non-covalently attaching biomacromolecules about a polymeric core such that the biomacromolecules cover at least about at least about 50% of the surface area of the polymeric core to form a shell. The polymeric core includes a polymer having pyridine functional groups. In one particular embodiment, the biomacromolecules can be attached to the polymeric core by combining an organic solution containing the polymer in an organic solvent with an aqueous solution containing the biomacromolecules to form an emulsion, mixing the emulsion, and removing the organic solvent.

1 . A bionanocomposite comprising
 a core comprising a polymer having pyridine functional groups, wherein the core defines an outer surface having a surface area; and   a shell comprising a plurality of biomacromolecules, wherein the shell is positioned about the outer surface of the core such that the shell covers at least about 50% of the surface area of the polymeric core;   wherein the polymer having pyridine functional groups non-covalently interacts with the biomacromolecules to form the bionanocomposite.   
   
   
       2 . The bionanocomposite as in  claim 1 , wherein the biomacromolecules comprise virus particles. 
   
   
       3 . The bionanocomposite as in  claim 2 , wherein the virus particles comprise cowpea mosaic virus, turnip mosaic virus, tobacco mosaic virus, bacteriophage M13, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The bionanocomposite as in  claim 1 , wherein the biomacromolecules comprise proteins. 
   
   
       5 . The bionanocomposite as in  claim 4 , wherein the proteins have an isoelectric point lower than about 9. 
   
   
       6 . The bionanocomposite as in  claim 1 , wherein the core further comprises a biologically active material. 
   
   
       7 . The bionanocomposite as in  claim 1 , wherein the bionanocomposite has a diameter from about 10 nanometers to about 200 nanometers. 
   
   
       8 . The bionanocomposite as in  claim 1 , wherein the polymer having pyridine functional groups comprises poly(4-vinylpyridine), poly(2-vinyl pyridine), or copolymers or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       9 . The bionanocomposite as in  claim 8 , wherein the polymer having pyridine functional groups comprises poly(styrene-b-4-vinyl pyridine), poly(styrene-b-2-vinyl pyridine), poly(2-vinyl pyridine-b-c-caprolactone), poly(ethylene oxide-b-4-vinyl pyridine), poly(styrene-b-4-vinylpyridine-b-styrene), poly(4-vinyl pyridine-b-styrene-b-4-vinyl pyridine), poly(styrene-b-4-vinyl pyridine-b-ethylene oxide) or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       10 . The bionanocomposite as in  claim 1 , wherein the shell is configured to disassociate from the core when in an aqueous solution having a pH of less than about 3. 
   
   
       11 . A method of forming a bionanocomposite defining a shell and a core, the method comprising
 non-covalently attaching biomacromolecules about a polymeric core, wherein the polymeric core comprises a polymer having pyridine functional groups and defines an outer surface having a surface area, and wherein the biomacromolecules cover at least about at least about 50% of the surface area of the polymeric core to form a shell.   
   
   
       12 . The method as in  claim 11 , wherein the biomacromolecules are attached to the polymeric core by
 combining an organic solution containing the polymer in an organic solvent with an aqueous solution containing the biomacromolecules to form an emulsion;   mixing the emulsion; and   removing the organic solvent.   
   
   
       13 . The method as in  claim 12 , wherein the organic solvent is removed by dialysis or evaporating at room temperature. 
   
   
       14 . The method as in  claim 12 , wherein the organic solution is simultaneously dripped into and mixed with the aqueous solution. 
   
   
       15 . The method as in  claim 11 , wherein the biomacromolecules comprise virus particles. 
   
   
       16 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein the virus particles comprise cowpea mosaic virus, turnip mosaic virus, tobacco mosaic virus, bacteriophage M13 or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       17 . The method as in  claim 11 , wherein the biomacromolecules comprise proteins. 
   
   
       18 . The method as in  claim 17 , wherein the proteins have an isoelectric point lower than about 9. 
   
   
       19 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the core further comprises a biologically active material. 
   
   
       20 . The method as in  claim 1 , wherein the polymer having pyridine functional groups comprises poly(4-vinylpyridine), poly(2-vinylpyridine), or copolymers or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       21 . The method as in  claim 20 , wherein the polymer having pyridine functional groups comprises poly(styrene-b-4-vinyl pyridine), poly(styrene-b-2-vinyl pyridine), poly(2-vinyl pyridine-b-ε-caprolactone), poly(ethylene oxide-b-4-vinyl pyridine), poly(styrene-b-4-vinylpyridine-b-styrene), poly(4-vinyl pyridine-b-styrene-b-4-vinyl pyridine), poly(styrene-b-4-vinyl pyridine-b-ethylene oxide) or combinations thereof.